Tag: movie

‘There’s no such thing as truth. It’s bullshit. Everyone has their own truth, and life just does whatever the fuck it wants.’ /Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding at the end of the movie)

What is this movie about?
This biographical movie captures the life of American figure skater, Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie) whose life was full of abuse relationships. First with her mother (played by Allison Janney) than with his first husband (played by Sebastian Stan).

Who is Tonya Harding?
She was born in 1970 in Portland and began figure skating at the age of 4. She became famous in 1991 when she became the first American woman to perform the triple axel in a competition. Her career took a sad turn when she was associated with the attack of Nancy Kerrigan in 1994 and was banned from skating. After that she worked as a professional boxer. She currently lives with her third husband and her son.

And how Margot Robbie performed this choreography in the movie:

Awards:Academy Award winner 2018: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
/Allison Janney/Academy Award nomination 2018: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
/Margot Robbie/
Best Achievement in Film Editing
/Tatiana S. Riegel/Golden Globe winner 2018: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
/Allison Janney/Golden Globe nomination 2018: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
/Margot Robbie/

What did I like about this movie?
First of all I always enjoy films that are based on real events. We civilians imagine figure skaters (and ballet dancers as well) to live like princesses, but the truth is their life is full of hard work and suffering. Training thousands of hours while their friends and classmates are living their normal teenage life. The movie also shows the fragility of professional sportsmen’s lives, because an injury can destroy the work of long years. These people start training at a very young age and have not time to learn a ‘proper’ profession so if they don’t achieve something remarkable in their active years, it’s very hard for them to stand on their own feet later. I also found Margot Robbie’s and Allison Janney’s performances truly remarkable.

Book experience of the month:I was very curious about Margaret Atwood’s The handmaid’s tale, so I started the month by reading that. It turned out to be less disturbing than the series, but I’ll get to that later. Even though the book sets place in the dystopian America, it poses painfully real questions the current situation of women.
When I was in Budapest, I bought a Poket book called Dairy of a madwoman by Géza Csáth. Although I like the novel, I think it can be very hard to read and understand for people who has never learned psychiatry before.

Audiobook experience of the month:I got to the 6th Harry Potter book, the Half blood prince, and I know it means that this series will soon end… So I try to enjoy the story as much as I can. I still can’t forgive Ron for fooling around with Lavender Brown. Seriously, what was he thinking?!

Movie experience of the month:I want to catch up with the Oscar movies, so I watched Three billboards outside Ebbing. Previously I thought this will be a very sad movie, but I was positively disappointed. The movie focuses on the characters, they have enough time to develop until the end and all together gives a great opportunity for the actors in it. I really liked the performance of Woody Harrelson.
Then I moved on to The shape of water and I liked that movie even better. This one became the best movie of 2017 and it won three more Academy awards: for directing, best music and best production design. Very impressive, isn’t it? The story takes place in the 1960’s and is about two extraordinary lovers. Extraordinary, because Sally Hawkins plays a deaf cleaning lady who falls in love with a creature from the sea.
Last but not least I finally got to see last year’s fashion movie, Phantom thread. It is a very interesting story about a dressmaker (Daniel Day-Lewis) who meets a woman, Alma, who becomes his muse. But is it enough for Alma as well? Can she become a real partner to the artist?

Series experience of the month:After reading the book, I started watching The handmaid’s tale by Hulu as well. I have to tell you, it’s more shocking than the book and it has many changes as well. For example, Luke doesn’t survive in the book and Ofglen kills herself. I’m very excited to see Alexis Bledel in such a role, amazed by Elisabeth Moss and I can’t wait for the second season!

Travelling experience of the month:I went to Budapest this month to see the Daalarna Fashion Show and it was the best fashion experience ever! Find out more about it here.

Book experience of the month:First of all I read The white king written by Hungarian writer, György Dragomán because I saw the trailer of the movie that was made from the novel last year. I haven’t seen the it yet because I wanted to wait until I read the book. The book reminded me of Imre Kertész’s Fateless because it explains a tragic period of history from the point of view of a young person and the way he sees that world doesn’t seem as terrible as it actually was.
Then I moved on to something completely different with Alice Wonder’s Paris, c’est le vie. Alice is a Hungarian lady who spent 7 years living in the ‘City of lights’ and she shares her experiences with her readers in a smart and funny way. I loved it, can’t wait to read the other three books of her series.

Movie experience of the month:If you want to just sit down and laugh, Central intelligence will be a great choice for you. It stars the Rock as a wierd but lovable CIA agent who gets in touch with his old high school pal.Planetarium tells the story of the sisters (Nathalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp), who make a living from performing paranormal seances. Very sensitive story.
To see the reflection of current society’s, watch Manifesto with Cate Blanchett starring in 13 different roles. A teacher, a homeless guy, a scientist… all played by her.

Cinema experience of the month:March has been a very busy month. First I saw Fifty shades freed, but it was a bit of a disappointment for me… It was a crime story filled with some romantic scenes. I still think the first movie was the best of the trilogy.
I absolutely loved the new Tomb Raider movie! Alicia Vikander is such a lovely and talented actress, I really adore her.
And finally, Red Sparrow. Most of the scenes were shot in Hungary, it was amazing to see Jennifer Lawrence walking to Nyugati Railway station, where I’ve been a couple of weeks as well. Some Hungarian actors appeared in the movie too. The thriller is about an Russian ex-ballerina who becomes an intelligence officer because she has to support her mother. I don’t want to make spoilers but it is a great movie if you want to get to know more about true human nature.

Travelling experience of the month:15th March is a national holiday because of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence 1848-49. So that weekend I went to a Hungarian spa town, Harkány with 3 of my very best childhood friends. A blog post come soon with pictures, I promise! 🙂

Food experience of the month:It recently became clear that I’m lactose intolerant, so one of my friends suggested me to try almond milk. Yummi, yummi!

Book experience of the month:This month I read Short stories: The happy prince by Oscar Wilde. The book teaches a lot about the true kind of human nature and every story holds a moral lesson.
Then I read Klimt: Women, that is a short book about the muses of the painter Gustav Klimt and women’s situation in the 19th and 20th century. I got this one from my mummy when she went to see The Kiss last year in Belvedere, Vienna.

Audiobook experience of the month:Of course I followed Harry’s adventures and fights with Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It starts to make me feel sad that his adventures will be over in two books…again.

Movie experience of the month:First I saw a very unusual family story of Winnie, the pooh’s writer, A. A. Milne, called Goodbye, Christopher Robin. I finally got to see The murder on the Orient Express! It was very monumental. I also saw a Hungarian movie, 1945. It’s about a small town, where one day two Jewish people turn up after the war. People have to face their guilt and re-evaluate their old decisions. Then I watched Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, which is about the psychologist who wrote the comic in the 1940s. It was very interesting to see Ryan Gosling in a sci-fi movie. Although Blade runner 2049 may seem slow, it really gives you a special feeling. But altogether my most favourite movie this month was Lion! Dev Patel, Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman play the main characters of this emotional journey.

Cinema experience of the month:Yesterday I went to see the new Marvel movie, Black Panther, introducing Wakanda’s king, TChalla played by Chadwick Boseman and his love, Nakia by the Academy Award winner, Lupita Nyong’o.

Series experience of the month:I want to catch up with the 4th season of Gotham, so that is all. Seems like Big Bang Theory and Vikings went on a holiday.

Travelling experience of the month:I went to Budapest twice this month to visit friends! I always find new things to discover there.

Photography experience of the month:The ones I took on my trips and some shots of my friend at Buda Castle. Can’t wait to start taking portrait pictures more intensely.

The first month of the year has already passed… Wait! Whaaat?Let’s see what I was up to in my free time!

Book experience of the month:First I read a book about Hungarian artist’s love stories (Festői szerelmek) from a Hungarian literature historian, Krisztián Nyári, it was very interesting.
The next one was Vivienne Westwood written by her and Ian Kelly. The book starts with describing the preparations of Paris’s Fashion Week, so it’s a must read to all fashionistas!

Audiobook experience of the month:This month I continued Harry’s adventures in Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament and I realised that if I had to choose my favourite book from the series, it has to be this one or the third book. It’s beacuse they are not so dark as the books following, but still we went to more adventures with Harry already and we know all the characters.

Movie experience of the month:If you are looking for a very funny action movie, The hitman’s bodyguard will be perfect for your taste. Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds are hilarious!
Inspired by my new chapter, I watched some of my favourite fashion movies, Sex and the City 1 and 2 and of course, The Devil wears Prada. All of them had been a great inspiration for me.
And the last movie I saw was Jumanji from 1995 with the darling Robin Williams. It made me think, how future generations will react to this year’s movies that we consider very spectacular. Where will the film industry develop?

Cinema experience of the month:And the reason I watched the old Jumanji movie because I saw the new one in the cinema. I was looking for relaxation and I got it! It had been shot in a very scenic place and it actually turned out to be more fun than I thought.

Series experience of the month:I saw Kit Harrington’s mini series, Gunpowder about Guy Fawkes’ and a group of Catholics who attempted to blow up the House of Lords and kill the king.The other series I saw is called Dark and if I had to resemble it to an other series, it would be Stranger Things, but the German version of it. Although it has time travelling and more characters.

Theatre experience of the month:There is a series in REÖK Palace in Szeged that commemorates the most famous Hungarian painter’s love stories. This month it was Mihály Munkácsy.
I also went to see Amadeus in the National Theatre in Szeged. It was written by Peter Shaffer and I’m a huge fan of this drama. I saw it first in the Katona József Theatre in Kecskemét and I saw the movie from 1984.

Photography experience of the month:It has to be that Friday when I was shooting ballet classes. Click here to find out more about it.

Music experience of the month:This month I was listening to French music: Édith Piaf, Francoise Hardy, Jacques Brel, Zaz, Indila, Chloé Stafler.

Drink experience of the month:My friend, Helen from Taiwan surprised me by sending Taiwanese tea for my birthday, because she knows about my tea obsession. It has been a wonderful surprise! 🙂

We are getting very close to the end of this year. It is the time to think and remember. Let’s see what I was up to this month.

Book experience of the month:I was finally able to read Dan Brown’s Origin and it was worth the wait! Most of the story takes place in Barcelona and it even has a Hungarian character. If you are interested in art, science or artificial intelligence, I truly recommend this book for you! There were 5 twists at the last pages and I couldn’t really put it down.
The other book I read this month was about my favourite Hungarian actress, a true legend, Mari Törőcsik. Written by director László Bérczes in an interview form, it was very interesting to read.

Audiobook experience of the month:I continued with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling, but I’m not finished yet, because I wasn’t travelling by tram every day, I am at home since 21th December. So Harry, see you next year as well!

Movie experience of the month:Fortunately I was able to watch a lot of movies this month, but I’m only gonna list the ones that are not Christmas related, because I made a blog post about them earlier (click here!).
First of all my family’s old time favourite, Much Ado About Nothing. The movie is only one year older than me and it was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also plays the main role of Benedetto. You can see other actor icons like Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Kate Beckinsale. I consider it the best Shakespeare adaptation ever. ‘Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner;’ there’s a double meaning in that…” /Benedetto/ Hilarious!!
My other favourite movie this month has to be Tulip fever. It reminded me a lot of Girl with a pearl earring, because both of them takes place in the Netherlands, have a painter in the center of attention and gave me the same mood after watching them. Alicia Vikander continues to amaze me.The Lost City of Z is based on the true story of Percival Fawcett, a Britisch explorer. After King Arthur and this movie, Charlie Hunnan made a good impression on me, I consider him a great actor. Fun fact: the new Spiderman, Tom Holland plays the role of his son.
Inspired by the book about Mari Törőcsik, I decided to watch her first movie, Merry-go-round from 1956. It was nominated for a Golden Palm and has been named one of the best Hungarian movies of all time.
I was very curious about Beguiled, Sofia Coppola’s new drama/thriller movie from 2017, but it wasn’t that exciting as it seemed in the trailer and the scenery was sometimes so dark it was hard to see the characters.

Cinema experience of the month:I went to the cinema yesterday to see the new Star Wars movie. It was hard to be on the internet with no spoilers or opinions, but somehow I managed. The movie is 2,5 hours long, but time flies fast if you are having fun. I really liked the new creatures, especially the little half bird-half hamster cuties. It’s hard to believe that the last Star Wars movie was the very first role of Daisy Ridley, she is very talented. Since that she appeared in the new Orient Express movie that I unfortunately missed in the theatres. Kylo Ren’s character is also very interesting and it was lovely to see the darling Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, R2D2 and C3PO as well. I’m looking forward to the next movie, which is promised to come in 2019.I also saw A Viszkis (I checked, there is no English title of the movie yet, it means someone who drinks whiskey). It is the movie of Nimród Antal and is about Attila Ambrus, a robber who became very famous in the 1990’s. It has been an awesome year of Hungarian movies (Sing, Kincsem, About body and soul, Budapest noir) and this is also a great one.

Series experience of the month:The 5th season of Vikings started and it is as amazing as usual! I thought it would be wierd not to have Ragnar in the cast, but I still love this show. I’m very excited about Ivar, the Boneless’s character.

Travelling experience of the month:I went to see Bratislava for the first time, you can read my thoughts about it here.

Photography experience of the month:It has to be all the Christmas fairs that I’ve been to this year, and fortunately there was many of them.

November passed so quickly, it’s unbelievable… I went through a lot of feelings this month. From enjoying the last warm autumn days to decorating my apartment with several reindeers singing ‘Siiilent niiight’…

Book experience of the month:I’ve been always curious about the woman who not only used a pseudonym to hide her female identity, but was the partner of Frédéric Chopin for several years and corresponded with Gustave Flaubert. My first George Sand novel was La Petite Fadette, the romantic novel that takes place in the 19th century countryside. It was lovely to read, I hope I can procure more of her novels.My second choice was Lauren Graham’s My Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between), the book she wrote about the 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls series between 2000-2007, and then about the cast’s reunion for a 4 episode windup last year. It’s a must-read for all true fans.

Audiobook experience of the month:I moved on to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Jim Dale is still hilarious! It always made me smile how he imitated Lockhart’s voice: ‘Harry, Harry, Harryyy…’.

Movie experience of the month:
Circle movie, starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks makes us think about the advantages and disadvantages of modern social media.The Space between us is a nice romantic story, not only for space fans!Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead men tell no tales honestly was a little forced for me. Jack Sparrow’s character was a big hit when the first movie came out, but not anymore. Though it was nice to see (SPOILER ALERT!) Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley reunited.

Cinema experience of the month:November has been the month of superheroes! The new Thor movie was funnier than the first two and Mark Ruffalo is always a great coworker. Cate Blanchett’s Hela was a pretty badass enemy. Fun fact: this was the first time Marvel movie that had a female wicked leading character.
The long awaited Justice League had two precious actors, Ezra Miller as the Flash and Gal Gadot as Wonderwoman. I still can’t get over the fact that Ben Affleck became Batman… whoever thought about that at DC Comics, he is not their friend!
And I also saw A Bad Moms Christmas with my friends during my trip to Budapest. Although it’s full of crazy and funny moments, it still makes you think about what is important in Christmas: having the perfect tree and perfect decoration or spending quality time with your loved ones?

Series experience of the month:The second season of Stranger Things is finally out and it was just as good as the first one! I love how they pay attention to every detail to create this 80’s world. Can’t wait for season 3!

Theatre experience of the month:I went to see The Barber of Seville in the National Theatre in Szeged. I actually never heard an opera in Hungarian before. After talking to the singer playing Count Almaviva (I know, such a VIP…), he told us it was harder because Hungarian words often end with syllables like ‘t’ or ‘k’ while in Italian you can let go of the ‘o’-s and ‘a’-s. Besides it was a lot of fun and a great way to attract younger people to watch an opera.

Travelling experience of the month:I went to Debrecen for a weekend to visit my Polish friend who came here to study with Erasmus. I have actually never been to Debrecen before so it was a great opportunity.
I traveled to the Hungarian capital, Budapest to visit my childhood friends. We went to see the Christmas fair (blog post coming soon about it, no worries).

Photography experience of the month:Definitely my Budapest night photos and the ones I took of the Japanese collection of the Déri Museum in Debrecen.

Music experience of the month:Janis Joplin’s Summertime when the living is easy. I really don’t know why.

Food experience of the month:Although the most commonly known Hungarian dish by foreigners is goulash, I only had it in school canteens. And who’s fault is that, mummy? OK, just kidding, I know it’s mine. But it’s never too late. Goulash is a traditional soup made from beef and a lot of vegetables seasoned with paprika. If someone wants to sell it to you elsewhere, don’t believe them, we have the original!